British and US aid workers have been asked to leave Yemen by Houthi authorities in the country, a letter seen by Sky News shows.
In the letter to the country’s United Nations coordinator, the Houthi-controlled foreign affairs ministry requests aid workers with US and British citizenship to leave within 30 days.
It follows the second set of joint UK and US airstrikes against Houthi forces, aimed at stopping raids on shipping in the Red Sea.
Middle East latest: Houthis warn UK and US to ‘expect response’
The letter also calls on aid agencies not to recruit any workers with dual nationalities from the UK and US in the next 30 days.
The full letter reads: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Yemen extends its best regards to the office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sanaa, and through them to all offices of humanitarian organisations working in the Republic of Yemen.
This content is provided by Spreaker, which may be using cookies and other technologies.
To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies.
You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Spreaker cookies or to allow those cookies just once.
You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options.
Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Spreaker cookies.
To view this content you can use the button below to allow Spreaker cookies for this session only.
Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts
“The ministry would like to emphasise the necessity of informing all officials and workers who hold American and British citizenship of their preparation to leave the country within a maximum period of 30 days from the date of this determination so they will be ready to leave immediately upon the expiration of the period referred to, and the ministry will be sure to inform you via a ministerial letter 24 hours before departure.
“The ministry also calls upon [the humanitarian organisations] not to recruit any employees with dual nationalities from those countries mentioned above during this period.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Yemen takes this opportunity to express appreciation and respect to the office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator.”
The UK and US have been carrying out the strikes in retaliation for Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea.
Defence secretary Grant Shapps said last night that the second round of strikes were a “success”.
Read more:
Houthis have laid a trap and the UK have flown right in – analysis
Why have the UK and US launched more strikes on Yemen?
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Shapps posted: “I want to thank all members of the Armed Forces involved in last night’s operations against Houthi targets.
“Their dedication, professionalism and skill made the operation a success, degrading the capabilities that the Houthis use to threaten global trade and the lives of innocent mariners,” he said.
Watch our new foreign affairs show, The World with Yalda Hakim, from Monday to Thursday between 9pm and 10pm on Sky News.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.
Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
You can receive Breaking News alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News App. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.
